Tom Hayes
Ceist:188 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary did not qualify for the homecare package. [16751/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 26 June 2007
Ceisteanna (126, 127, 128, 129)
Freagraí scríofa
Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:189 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will review the arrangements whereby older people must get a letter from a doctor to say that they require an eye test in order to qualify for reading glasses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17430/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ophthalmic scheme operated by the Health Service Executive, under Section 67 of the Health Act 1970, provides for a sight test and spectacles, free of charge, once every two years for adult medical card holders and dependants not covered by the relevant child health service.
To avail of these services the individual is required to complete an application form, which is available from local participating optometrists, and forward it to their Local Health Office. If the criteria of the ophthalmic scheme are met an authorisation to attend for the sight test will issue to the individual who may then avail of the service. In the normal course of events, a letter from a doctor is not required.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:190 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is expected to provide adequate one stop shop facilities for parents whose children are autistic with a view to an accelerated programme of early diagnosis, speech and language therapy and associated back up services whereby parents can have access to a reliable and comprehensive service, thus eliminating the current situation whereby parents are themselves forced to carry out their own research, source their own diagnosis and therapy facilities; her proposals for the future in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17671/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraBernard J. Durkan
Ceist:339 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is expected to provide adequate one stop shop facilities for parents whose children are autistic with a view to an accelerated programme of early diagnosis, speech and language therapy and associated back up services whereby parents can have access to a reliable and comprehensive service, thus eliminating the current situation whereby parents are themselves forced to carry out their own research, source their own diagnosis and therapy facilities; and her proposals for the future in this regard. [17672/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 339 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which commenced on June 1 2007 for children under 5 provides people with disabilities with an entitlement to: An independent Assessment of health and education needs; a statement of the services (Service Statement) which it is proposed to provide, which will be prepared by a Liaison Officer; pursue a complaint if there is a failure to provide these entitlements; make an appeal through an independent appeals office against a recommendation of complaints officer or the non implementation of recommendation of complaints officer (by HSE or education provider)
This prioritisation reflects the importance of intervention early in life, which can have a significant impact on the disabling effects of a condition or impairment. Part 2 will be commenced in respect of children aged 5-18 in tandem with the implementation of the EPSEN Act. The statutory requirements of Part 2 of the Disability Act will be extended to adults as soon as possible but no later than 2011. In order to part facilitate the Implementation of Part II of the Disability Act an additional sum of €75m, for revenue purposes, was provided to the Health Service Executive for Disability Services in the 2007 Budget. This sum incorporates the 2007 element of the Government's multi-annual investment programme for the National Disability Strategy. This Strategy is committed to enhancing the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services to adults and children with an intellectual, physical and sensory disability and those with autism.
The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.